Last year, the Department for Education made proposals to publish Early Years Foundation Stage Profile results by school and assess children with new 'readiness for school' measures at the age of five (News, 17 November 2010).
Frances Laing, a freelance writer who edits the blog A parent's guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage, said she believes that making the EYFS Profile results accessible to parents is unhelpful and puts unwarranted pressure on young children, their teachers, parents and carers.
She said, 'The EYFS requirements are fundamentally flawed and set children up to fail. Most parents don't even know about or understand the early years curriculum.
'League tables are divisive and unnecessary, and generate unintended and foreseeable consequences that do more harm than good.'
Ms Laing, who requested a parental exemption from the EYFS for her daughter, argued that the new tests at the end of reception would judge all children by the same standards, even though those born in the summer are nearly a year younger than their peers.
Since launching the petition last week she has gained over 500 signatures, including some members of the NUT, Dr Richard House, Toxic Childhood author Sue Palmer and early years consultant Margaret Edgington.Ms Laing said she hoped to get 5,000 signatures over the period of a year before taking it to Downing Street.
Further information
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/41774.html
